Green River Discusses Community Life Center

By COREY BLUEMELStaff Writer

Green River City Council held its first meeting on Jan. 13 at city hall. Mayor Glen Dale Johnson introduced the new councilmembers and explained that the swearing in had taken place on Jan. 5. The new members of the city council are Blaine Evans, Kerry Bigelow, Dan Harrison and Trent Fluckey.

Green River Community Center representative Joni Pace awarded the volunteer of the month for December 2003 to the Wilmarth family. This family, including members from Grand Junction, Colo. all came together to prepare the lighting display in the city park and around the town for the holiday season. The lights on ceremony for the display was done in conjunction with the volunteer appreciation luncheon.

Mayor Johnson announced that the city treasurer, Janet Keele, has resigned. After the application process, the council has decided to award the position to Valerie Newland. Councilman Bigelow was elected to act as the Mayor-ProTem for the first six months of 2004 and Councilman Fluckey was elected for the second six months. Mayor Johnson will make the department head assignments at the February meeting.

The planning and zoning commission positions are also open. Mayor Johnson announced that anyone who would like to serve in the positions should contact city hall.

Resolution 1-13-2004A was adopted. This resolution states that: Jan. 1, Feb. 16, April 9, May 31, July 5, July 23, Sept. 6, Oct. 11, Nov. 25-26 and Dec. 24 will be the days designated as holidays for the city employees for the year 2004. Resolution 1-13-2004B stated: Jan. 13, Feb. 10, March 9, March 30, April 13, May 11, June 8, July 13, Aug. 10, Aug. 31, Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Nov. 9. Nov. 30 and Dec. 14 will be the schedule for the meetings of the city council for the 2004 year. In the months that have two dates listed, the second will be exclusively for citizen concerns.

Mary Wilmarth from Friends of PACT, Positive Action Community Team, explained that the organization is a fundraising organization that raises money for Green River projects only. She announced that any worthy cause in the city of Green River can be taken on by the group. The project that they are working on is the Green River Community Life Center. The group has hired Kevin Peterson as their financial advisor for the project.

Peterson told the council the he is the owner of Capitol Consulting Group and his job will be to structure the financing for the Green River Community Life Center. He explained the avenues of attaining funds for this type of project. There are tax credits, state and federal grants, and private grants. The one thing that the group needs at this point is a piece of property.

Green River City and the Friends of PACT have examined several city owned properties and have made plans to move forward in the process on a plot of land between Mulberry and Howard streets. Mayor Johnson will have a few items to go over with the city's attorney before the finalization can be done. A public hearing and meeting with planning and zoning also must be completed.

This new community center has the possibility to create 25 full time jobs for Green River citizens. The project will include a medical component and may contain up to 12 housing units. An estimate of the amount of money needed for the project was $5.5 million.

Ernest Bastian requested that the council honor a promise by a city council of many years ago, to put curb, gutter and sidewalk in front of his home. He explained that the arrangement he had with that particular council was to give the city a right of way in exchange for the curb and gutter work. The city agreed to engineer and profile the property on Clark Street and tabled further decision.

Connie Copenhaver of PACT, gave the council a financial report concerning the fund raising activities of the group. The Friends of PACT are in the process of doing several fundraising events for the Green River Community Life Center, including an ongoing project of selling bricks that will be included in the entryway of the new building, with the donors name engraved. Copenhaver said that all the money raised to date has gone to pay the consultant, and also Jim Wood for the feasibility study.

Copenhaver presented the council with the contract for the lease of equipment to the Green River Economic Action Team (GREAT). This contract will include the community TV channel equipment. It was accepted by the council

The councilman heard a presentation by city recorder Conae Black. She expressed her concern over the condition of the city's copy machine. The machine has been repaired numerous times, but the machine is quite old and does not work properly. The council approved the purchase of a new copy machine for the city.

Brian Meadows informed the council concerning the activities of the city's maintenance crew. Some improvements have been completed to the city shop and cold weather storage of some equipment has been secured. The ice pond in the park is ready for the children in the city to use and snow removal is going well.

Christine Monroe, of the Green River Community Center reported that during January, they are celebrating the Renaissance. There are many activities planned around this theme and many out of town speakers and demonstrations are coming. Monroe also mentioned that during the homecoming game at Green River High School on Jan. 23, the halftime activity will be along the same theme.

Conae Black reported that the audit has been completed by Smuin, Rich and Marsing and everything went very well. The auditors commended the city on the financial records.

Councilman Burr noted that there are two-three positions open on the museum board.

Councilman Fluckey requested that the ordinances for living accommodations at the airport be looked into. He has had an inquiry from an out of town person concerning the possibility of that person coming in and building a hangar with living space at the airport.

Mayor Johnson announced that the contract award for the missile base clean up project for the motor pool building will take place on Jan. 28.

The next meeting of the Green River City Council will be Feb. 10 at 6 p.m.